Name plate



rnnnnnror: a. s rnesswne, or hiransvrntn, INDIANA.

NAME PLATE.

Application filed February 27, 1922. 'Serial No. 539,673.

To all whom it ma concern:

Be it known that l, Funnnmcrc A; iJTRASS- \VEG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evansville, in the county of Vanderburg and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Name Plates, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to changeable name plates, particularly those adapted for use in connection with rural route post oilice boxes.

The Post @tlice Department sometimes changes the rural route number and the box number of an individuals rural route mail box so that an ordinary name plate does not meet requirements of the user.

The ordinary manner oi indicating the name and the route and box I number by stenciling or painting this data on the box has only a limited degree of permanency and requires repainting or changing it the route number or box number, or both, are changed by the Post Office Department.

Having in. view the foregoing conditions, I have invented the present im n'oved name I plate which has for its objects, first, to provide a durable, neat, and easily read name plate, so constructed that the obliteration of the data by the elements will not occur for a very long period of time as compared with the present method of identifying ruralpost o'llice boxes and which will be diiiicult of disfiguration or obliteration by boys or malicious persons; second, an improved name plate which can be readily changed as to route number or box number, or both. by the user without diiiiculty should the Post l'ltice Department change the data at any time and which will enable the route and box number to be changed again and again. it "Further changes are made therein, without rendering it necessary to substitute a new name plate.

My invention comprises those novel features relating to the general make-up of the name plate and, also, to those improvements by which the user can change the route numher or box number, or both, to meet condi tions laid down by the Post Oiiice Department, such as set forth hereinafter and recited in the appended claims.

Tn the acconnnin'ying drawings:

Figure l is a front view of the name plate in its original condition;

Fin". 2 is a detail cross section theretln'ouggh on the line 2--2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a view like Fig. l but showing the addition of the smaller, substitute, number plate;

y r ig. l is a detail view of the smaller, substitute, number plate by itself; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Fig. 3.

The frame or backing appears at 1 and the name plate is designated 2.

As furnished originally to the user, the name plate comprising the backing l and plate 2 are as shown in Fig; l. The backing or frame 1 is of rectangular shape coated on its outer surface with any suitable paint or coating composition adapted to resist the elements and which will not be easily obliterated, as shown at 3. The backing 1 has longitudinal flanges 4i and end flanges 5 which are overlapped on said longitudinal flanges. T he flanges: i and 5" hold the name plate 2 against the backing or frame 1. The

end flanges 5 are provided with miter cut ends 6 and asthe ends or the end flanges 5 overlie the end parts of the longitudinal flanges 4-, the ettect'on the eye is that of miter joints at the corners of the frame or backing 1. i k

Suitable holes 7 are provided which run through the end flanges and the name plate 2 through which screws or bolts may be inserted for fastening the name plate to the box.

The name plate is out out in the form of a stencil to show the name at 8, the route numher at 9, and the box number at 10, and because the coating; 3 is provided, the name, route number, and box number, appear perin a nen tly its thus far described, the name plate is complete and ready for use, it being; under stood that the cut out name 8, route 9, and box 10 are originally out through the plate 2 according to the requirements of the purchaser.

It is a. not infrequent occurrence for the Post Office Department to change either the route number 9, the box number 10, or both.

Provision is therefore made so that the new route number or box number, or both, can be applied to the name plate after being; ordered by the user from the manufacturer and to that end I provide the following improvements.

Holes 11 are punched clear through the name plate 2 and immediately back of these holes. the backing or frame 1' provided with indentations or pressed up or weakened parts, as shown at 12. The holes 11 appear in the name plate as originally furnished to the user and so do the indentations 12 and the parts remain in this condition until the necessity arises for-changing either the route number or the box number, or both. lVhen that necessity arises the user notifies the manufacturer of his needs and the manufacturer furnishes to the user a substitute plate suchas showngener'ally. at 13 in Fig. l. In the substitute plate 13 shown *in Fig. a, the distance between the holes 14 thereof is the same as between the holes 11. The user by employing any suitable appliance or tool, such as a nailor other sharp instrument, punches out the indented orthinned parts 12, thus providing holes in the frame or backing 1. The user then places the substitute plate 13 over the old number and, by the use of split fasteners 15 passed through the holes 14, 11', (and those now appearing in the backing l), fastens the substitute plate 13 in position. Y

The substitute plate 13 is itself of the same construction as the name plate comprising the backing 1, plate 2, and coating-3, and it is cut out at 17 in the form of the proper substitute number so that the coating will show through. N

If a change is made in the number of the route or box, the .old substitute plate is removed and a new plate, bearing the correct number, attached in its place.

I preferto have the coating 3 of some enamel water-proof paint but do not limit the invention to any particular coating.

1 may prefer to have the parts of the name plate of suitable sheet metal, manufactured in a form to resist rust and discoloration or of metal which will not rust or discolor.

I claim:

1. A name plate, comprising a backing provided with pressed up, indented, or wealn ened portions adapted to be completely punched out, when desired, to permit the passage of fasteners, and a. face plate located directly in front of the backing, said face plate bearing the desired information and provided with means located directly in front of said pressed up, indented, or weak ened portion, for indicating where a tool or other appliance may be applied to punch out the pressed up, indented, or weakened portions aforesaid when it is desired to fasten over' part of the information displayed, means bearing. substitute information.

2. A name plate comprising a backing provided with pressed up, indented, or weal ened portions adapted to be completely punched out, when desired, to permit the passage of fasteners, and a face plate located directly in front of the backing, said face plate bearing the desired information and provided with holes registering with the pressed up, indented, or weakened portions of the backing so that a tool or appliance may be inserted through said holes for punching out the pressed up, weakened or indented portions to permit the passage of fasteners for attaching means bearing sub stitute information. V

3. A changeable name plate comprising a larger backing having a display coa-ting, a face plate having cut out parts bearing information through which the coating is displayed, a, smaller name plate constructed similarly to the name plate as set forth, and

fastenings connecting the smaller name plate tothe larger name plate in superposed relation to a section of the cut out part of the face plate, whereby the substitute information carried by the smaller name plate is displayed in lieu of a section of the cut out partof the larger name plate, said section being covered and obscured by the smaller name plate. I v

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERICK A, SJTRASSW'EG. 

